Callow Hill, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow
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Where: Wicklow, Ireland
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When: Unknown
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Having assumed that yesterday's "location unknown" image would keep everyone busy for a few days (how wrong I was), I hadn't really prepared anything for today. And hence have not taken the time to investigate the background to today's offering. Presumably however the "Vartry" reference in the image connects it with the Vartry reservoir and water works of the mid-19th century....
Based on extensive inputs from abandoned railways, sharon.corbet, BeachcomberAustralia, O Mac and in particular Niall McAuley we learned a lot about both the inanimate and human subjects of this shot. Put simply, based on the OSI maps, similar catalogue images, census records and related publications, this tank is indeed part of the Vartry reservoir and works. Not only that, but it is 99% certain that the people pictured are Murtagh Geoghegan, Mary Geoghegan and one of their sons (Thomas, Patrick or John). This family lived at the nearby and aptly named "Tank House", with Murtagh acting as caretaker of this part of the water works. While John Gray was commemorated with a statue on O'Connell Street for his efforts in bringing fresh water and improved conditions to Dublin's citizens, we're delighted to acknowledge the contribution of the Geoghegan family ourselves today :)
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Perhaps c.1890s-1900s
NLI Ref: L_ROY_00538
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 23057
Based on extensive inputs from abandoned railways, sharon.corbet, BeachcomberAustralia, O Mac and in particular Niall McAuley we learned a lot about both the inanimate and human subjects of this shot. Put simply, based on the OSI maps, similar catalogue images, census records and related publications, this tank is indeed part of the Vartry reservoir and works. Not only that, but it is 99% certain that the people pictured are Murtagh Geoghegan, Mary Geoghegan and one of their sons (Thomas, Patrick or John). This family lived at the nearby and aptly named "Tank House", with Murtagh acting as caretaker of this part of the water works. While John Gray was commemorated with a statue on O'Connell Street for his efforts in bringing fresh water and improved conditions to Dublin's citizens, we're delighted to acknowledge the contribution of the Geoghegan family ourselves today :)
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Perhaps c.1890s-1900s
NLI Ref: L_ROY_00538
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 23057
callowhill
roundwood
countywicklow
vartry
vatryreservoir
waterworks
man
boy
woman
chair
wicklow
murtagh
mary
family
tankhouse
kitchenchair
caretaker
murtaghgeoghegan
geoghegan
marygeoghegan
tunnel
callowhillupper
robertfrench
williamlawrence
lawrencecollection
lawrencephotographicstudio
glassnegative
nationallibraryofireland
lawrencephotographcollection
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domenico milella
Congratulation for your beautiful Album.
O Mac
It seems to be covered over now. www.google.com/maps/search/Callow+Hill,+roundwood,+co+wic... maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,724930,702809,12,9
Niall McAuley
At the DIA we have, dated 1861-1868: New water supply scheme for Dublin, Pembroke and Blackrock, consisting of large storage reservoir with capacity of 84,000,000 gals. at Roundwood, filter beds, tunnel to Callowhill and pipe to Stillorgan.
abandoned railways
Could it be this? www.google.ie/maps/place/Callowhill/@53.0733673,-6.205944...
Niall McAuley
Permission for a pipe to replace the 150 year old tunnel was granted in 2017.
Niall McAuley
Work began in January 2018
Niall McAuley
Reverse view L_ROY_00539 show that the tunnel used to be open, too.
Niall McAuley
Another reverse view shows the same family (missed the wife on the kitchen chair at right first time!). I think they are a family living in the little house shown. To the census!
sharon.corbet
A Description of the Dublin Corporation Water Works by Parke Neville, dating from 1875, even including a map showing a tank at Callow Hill.
Niall McAuley
The Geoghegans, perhaps. Murtagh (caretaker), his wife Mary, and one of their sons, John or Murtagh Jr.
Niall McAuley
In https://www.flickr.com/photos/scorbet's document we learn of this Tank: The water is measured six times daily by a floating meter. This is presumably part of the caretaker's job.
Niall McAuley
The 1901 entry reveals more young Geoghegans, Thomas and Patrick, older than John and Murtagh.
Niall McAuley
Landowner on the 1901 buildings form is given as D. Cor Watr Works Com, and in 1911 as Dublin Corporation Water Works.
Niall McAuley
If the young man is John at 6, this is earliest 1900. If it is Murtagh Jr. aged 10, this is latest 1911.
Niall McAuley
On 539 linked above, there is a round plaque to the right of the tunnel, somewhat blurred, saying DUBLIN CORPORATION WATER WORKS THIS TUNNEL illegible Sir John Gray is on there (Sharon's doc is dedicated to him) as well as Parke Neville the engineer (Sharon's author and the DIA engineer).
sharon.corbet
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] Engineers Ireland has a history of the Dublin water and drainage schemes here which includes more info on who all the people are including both Sir John Grey and Parke Neville.
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
That is an impressive 'water feature' the Geoghegans have in their garden!
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Trying to figure out how it works - from https://www.flickr.com/photos/scorbet's 1875 description (page 20) -
Are those the 'floating meter' and the 'self-acting drop valve' (see notes) ?Niall McAuley
The rectangular contracted weir formula
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia Yes, in megazoom you can see that the post in the centre of the weir has a little locked door in it with a catwalk out to it. 6 times a day, Mr. Geoghegan would walk out there, open the little door, and record the height of the water flowing over the weir. Then this measurement plugged into the weir formula would give the flow rate.
DannyM8
Well done Mary for keeping the show on the road.....more Dogs please.
sharon.corbet
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley I had a look at marriage and birth records for the Geoghegans. At his marriage in 1892, Murtagh Geoghegan is down as a labourer, but by 1893 at Thomas’ birth, he’s a caretaker. His address in 1892 is simply Callow Hill, but in 1893 he’s at “Tank House”.
guliolopez
Well done all. This Irish Genealogy Project Archive website lists a gravestone at St. Patrick's Church, Kilquade, Co. Wicklow as:
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Excellent stuff as usual. Thanks all! Really pleasantly surprised with confirmation of the people pictured. A welcome and fantastic bonus! Map, tags, description, etc all updated :) FYI - As mentioned recently, the image posted tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the last for a couple of days. Normal service will resume next week.